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Rev. N. J. L'Heureux, Jr., Publisher & Editor
Rev. Pedro Bravo-Guzman, Editor-in-Chief
An Ecumenical Report of Local and Global News
in God's Household
Published by the Queens Federation of Churches
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Church World Service Concerned over U.S.'s Cuba Humanitarian Aid Proposals August 3, 2006, WASHINGTON, DC– A meeting with U.S. State Department officials this week did little to assuage concerns of humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) over new restrictions on its established channel of aid distribution to Cuba, a situation exacerbated by current political uncertainty in Cuba. "If the U.S. government wants to see orderly political change in Cuba, rather than chaos, it should not adopt policies that disrupt the effective flow of humanitarian aid," says Church World Service Executive Director and CEO Rev. John L. McCullough. McCullough met Monday with State Department officials for clarification of U.S. policy regarding the relationship of U.S. church organizations to the Cuban Council of Churches (CCC) and says he expects to meet with them again before any policy changes are adopted. Committee Set to Review Accusation Against San Joaquin Bishop July 31, 2006 – The Episcopal Church's Title IV Review Committee is preparing to deal with accusations that Diocese of San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield has abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church. Bishops J. Jon Bruno of Los Angeles, Jerry M. Lamb of Northern California, James R. Mathes of San Diego and then-diocesan William E. Swing of California sent the letter to Bishop Dorsey Henderson of Upper South Carolina in mid-July. The letter cites Canon 9 of Title IV of the church's canons, entitled "Of Abandonment of the Communion of This Church by a Bishop." August 4, 2006, LOUISVILLE – The failure of Israel, the Arab states and the international community to reach a comprehensive peace agreement in the Middle East is at the root of the violence that is tearing Lebanon apart, says former Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) missionary and hostage there Benjamin Weir. "Hopes for peace are not on the horizon," Weir told the Presbyterian News Service in an exclusive Aug. 1 interview, "because the Arab-Israeli issue has not been addressed forthrightly." Weir, who with his wife Carol served as PC(USA) missionaries in Lebanon for nearly 30 years, was kidnapped off the streets of Beirut on May 8, 1984, by an Islamic fundamentalist group, Islamic Jihad, that later morphed into Hezbollah. He was released 16 months later. Shortly thereafter he was elected moderator of the 1986 General Assembly and has been one of the most world's most respected voices for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East for the past 20 years. WCC Appeals
to International Community August 3, 2006 – An appeal to "do whatever is possible to stop the bombings, negotiate a cease-fire and a comprehensive peace settlement" has been addressed today by the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia to "the leaders of the international community, especially to those from the United States, Israel and the United Kingdom." The WCC appeal also calls on the Israeli government to "give guarantees that humanitarian organisations will be allowed unhindered access to those in need of assistance." "Our hearts cry out to the leaders of the international community," says Kobia, who describes the current fighting as "a war of ominous dimension and of far-reaching consequences" that is causing "unimaginable and untold suffering to the people in Lebanon." Hundreds Surprised by God at World Mission Conference in Green Lake August 4, 2006, VALLEY FORGE, PA – Nearly 500 people gathered at Green Lake, Wisc, from Saturday, July 29 to Friday, Aug. 4 to receive information and inspiration at International Ministries' (IM) annual World Mission Conference. With a theme of "Surprised by Prayer: Mission and the Untamed God," attendees experienced God at work in prayer, preaching, worship, and workshops led by 32 missionaries, IM staff, and 13 partners or other special guests from around the world. Acting Executive Director Rev. Charles Jones said, "This year, our conference truly lived out its theme. This event from the planning to the execution was bathed in prayer. And our untamed God responded in ways that surprised us with both blessings and challenges from our missionaries, partners, and staff." Ten Years Later: Safe Sanctuary Movement Fights Complacency August 2, 2006, NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ten years after the United Methodist Church launched its "safe sanctuary" movement to protect children from sexual abuse, the attorney who spearheaded the program believes the church must guard against complacency or be prepared to face a multitude of lawsuits. According to the Rev. Joy Melton, safe sanctuary policies and procedures are wonderful – except when they are merely on the books and not followed. Then, when a child abuse incident does occur, such policies actually open up churches to lawsuits that can lead to massive settlements and damage awards. "A plaintiff's lawyer will turn to a jury and say, ‘How much more negligent can the church be but to know how to prevent this problem, yet be too busy?'" said Melton, who consults with churches and denominations on child abuse prevention and risk management for ministries. "When a jury hears that, they will just keep adding zeros to the award." Union
of Black Episcopalians Strengthens Relationships August 4, 2006 – Renewed relationships were in focus August 4 as more than 300 black Episcopalians, gathered in Richmond, Virginia, concluded the five-day, 38th annual meeting and conference of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE.) Under the theme "Practicing Our Faith: Strengthening our Relationships with God and Each Other," participants are reaffirming their Afro-Anglican connections, conducting business, receiving training, and sharing information. "We come together once every year to re-identify with ourselves," the Rev. Nelson W. Pinder, national president of UBE said. "It is a chance to get in touch with our African descent and verify that we are truly members of the Anglican Communion who work and live in the Episcopal Church." "This is one of our largest turnouts in several years," the Rev. Alonzo Pruitt, rector of St. Philip's Church, Richmond, Virginia, and conference co-dean said of the gathering, held at the Omni Richmond Hotel. ELCA Offers Ecumenical Resources about Full Communion Partners August 2, 2006 – The Office for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) recently completed a series of downloadable bulletin resources that provide factual information about the ELCA's five full-communion partnerships and one interim eucharistic agreement. "The new bulletins are simple, concise and easy to use for ... congregations," said Dr. Michael R. Trice, associate director, ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations. "The bulletins educate and inform the readers of ongoing ecumenical relationships. They increase awareness." Full communion is not a merging of churches but encourages church bodies to work together in a variety of local and international ministries. 4 agosto 2006 – Un llamamiento a "hacer todo lo posible para detener los bombardeos, negociar un alto el fuego y alcanzar un amplio acuerdo de paz" ha sido dirigido ayer por el secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), pastor Dr. Samuel Kobia, a los "líderes de la comunidad internacional, especialmente los de Estados Unidos, Israel y el Reino Unido." El llamamiento del CMI pide también al gobierno de Israel que "dé garantías de que se permitirá a las organizaciones humanitarias el acceso sin restricciones a los necesitados de ayuda." 4 junio 2006, GINEBRA, Suiza – Un nuevo llamado a la comunidad internacional, especialmente a Estados Unidos, Israel y al Reino Unido, para detener los bombardeos, negociar un alto el fuego y alcanzar un amplio acuerdo de paz en Medio Oriente lanzó el jueves el secretario general del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), Samuel Kobia. Nuestros corazones claman a los líderes de la comunidad internacional, para detener una guerra de dimensiones siniestras y consecuencias incalculables que está causando sufrimientos inimaginables e indescriptibles al pueblo del Líbano, dice Kobia. Human Rights Abuses Still a Concern to Filipino Church Leaders August 2, 2006 – Human rights abuses remain a concern for faith leaders in the Philippines, according to a United Methodist church executive. The Rev. Larry Pickens, chief executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity, met with ecumenical leaders, including those from the United Church of Christ and Pentecostal churches, during a July 25-28 visit to Mindanao, Philippines. The leaders shared with him the most recent list of church workers, both laity and clergy, assassinated over the past three years, Pickens said. From Hiroshima, Presiding Bishop's Recent Homily at Resurrection Church August 5, 2006 – Sunday, August 6, 2006 – the Feast of the Transfiguration – marks 61 years since U.S. military forces dropped the devastating atomic bomb on Hiroshima in the interest of ending World War II. In the year since last summer's observance of the 60th anniversary of the bombing, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold has visited Hiroshima and there preached the following homily in the Anglican Church of the Resurrection. Visiting at the invitation of Japan's Anglican Church (Nippon Sei Ko Kai), Griswold preached October 23 during Resurrection Church's principal Sunday morning service. The liturgy immediately followed a visit to Hiroshima's Peace Park where the Presiding Bishop, accompanied by Japan's Anglican Primate, the Most Rev. Joseph Toru Uno, laid a wreath at the memorial to the more than 200,000 persons who died in when the U.S. atomic bomb leveled the city on August 6, 1945. Fighting in Sri Lanka Affects UMCOR Tsunami Work August 4, 2006, NEW YORK – The slow simmer of war came to a full boil in Northeastern Sri Lanka in early August. Fighting between the Sri Lanka Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has dramatically increased in the Trincomalee District of northeastern Sri Lanka, an area where the United Methodist Committee on Relief has been working toward tsunami recovery. Fighting has displaced communities where UMCOR is working and has caused the organization to halt its reconstruction activities in order to provide relief to families displaced by the violence. July 31, 2006 NEW YORK – Going into a third week of violent attacks between Israel and Hezbullah in Lebanon, international humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) is voicing increasing concern over the growing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. The agency announced today that it is responding in the region and has issued an initial $1 million fundraising appeal. CWS is also alarmed at the lack of safe passage needed to deliver humanitarian aid to affected populations. "The UN has been asking for opening of humanitarian corridors," says Church World Service Emergency Response Program Director Donna Derr, "but so far those corridors haven't materialized and transport routes and communication in the damaged Lebanese regions are severely hindered." Derr says "It's an increasingly critical situation, with bridges destroyed, so many roads impassable, airports and power supplies bombed and inoperable." Disaster Child Care Helps Welcome Evacuees from Lebanon August 3, 2006, ELGIN, IL – Disaster Child Care volunteers have helped care for children of American families evacuating from the war in Lebanon and Israel. The program is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board. From July 20-28, a Disaster Child Care center was set up at the Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) to care for children of US citizens being evacuated from Lebanon, at the request of the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross. "During the nine-day response, 23 child care volunteers provided a safe secure space for 231 scared, confused, and weary children to play and, in some cases sleep, while parents were guided through US Customs, and given the opportunity to apply for assistance, arrange connecting flights, or contact family members in the US," reported coordinator Helen Stonesifer. Lutheran, Episcopalian Global Workers Pray for Peace in the Middle East July 29, 2006 – Unable to return home to Lebanon from the United States since July 16, Barakat Rahme, development officer, Contact and Resource Center (CRC), Beirut, said he is "worried about everything," particularly his family members "who are displaced (from their homes) somewhere in the mountains" of Lebanon. Rahme addressed an evening general session July 28 with more than 1,300 participants of the 2006 Global Mission Event of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He shared some of his fears and thoughts about the Middle East conflict and escalating military action that has now expanded into Lebanon. Co-sponsored by the Episcopal Church and endorsed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the GME brings together participants of all ages from across the United States and around the world July 27- 30 to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. July 29, 2006 – In response to the bloody conflict between Hezbollah and Israel as well as Palestine and Israel, the World Sikh Council – America Region (WSC-AR) has joined hands with sister national religious communities in the United States to engage in prayers for peace in the Middle East. "We call upon the Sikh community to hold special prayers at Gurdwaras for peace in the Middle East and to partner with local inter-religious groups to pray for peace," said Dr. Manohar Singh, Chairperson of WSC-AR. "We need to recognize the suffering of all those affected by this escalating conflict and pray for Sarbat daa Bhallaa (well-being of all). We also should pray for the safety of the brave Sikh UN peacekeeping soldiers currently helping in Southern Lebanon and the rest of the Middle East." ELCA Supports People with Disabilities in Lebanon August 2, 2006, CHICAGO – International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sent $30,000 Aug. 1 to support the work of the Contact and Resource Center, an institution designed to enhance the future of people living with disabilities in Lebanon. Located in Beirut, the CRC office has moved its services north of the city due to military confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group. A "companion" ministry of the ELCA, staff of the CRC reported that people with disabilities are often left vulnerable, physically and emotionally. The CRC is responding to meet their needs during the military confrontation. Accad Promotes Complex, Informed Christian Engagement of Middle East at WMC July 31, 2006, VALLEY FORGE, PA – Dr. Martin Accad, a Lebanese Christian leader and seminary professor, will address denominational executives and church and lay leaders at International Ministries' (IM) World Mission Conference, to be held Jul. 29 through Aug. 4 in Green Lake, Wisconsin, leaders of the mission agency announced. Accad, the academic dean of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminiary (ABTS) in Lebanon's capital city of Beirut, will address the conference on Friday, Aug. 4, and will also engage in an extensive question-and-answer period, said Rev. Reid Trulson, IM's Area Director for Europe and the Middle East. "I am deeply grateful Dr. Accad will be able to join us at World Mission Conference," said Trulson. "We need to hear the voice of respected Christian leaders from the Middle East, such as Dr. Accad, who can give us insight we may not generally find in the secular U.S. media."
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